Process for imparting fancy effects to fabrics



Patented Apr. 5, 1938 PROCESS FOR IMPARTING FANCY EFFECTS T0 FABRICS George Heberlein, in, Wattwil, Wanne, and Ernst Weiss, Wittwil, Switzerland, assignors to Heberlein Patent Corporation, New York, N. iL, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application November 27,1935, Serial No. 51,828. In Germany December 1, 1934 17 Claims.

The invention relates to process for imparting fancy efiects to fabrics; and the invention is particularly useful where it is desired to locally restrict such effects to given areas, such for example as in producing so-called patterned effects.

The process is applicable to textile fabrics whether made by weaving, knitting or otherwise; and to such fabrics whether made of vegetable or animal fibers or mixtures of both, whether such fibers be natural or artificial. By way of example, such artificial fibers produced from reprecipitated cellulose as well as those made from cellulose ethers and cellulose esters are suitable for treatment according to this invention.

Heretofore it has been proposed to use zinc chloride as a swelling agent in order to produce shrinkage of parchmentization of textile fabrics. Attempts have also been made to treat restricted areas of such fabric both by means of applying a suitable resist followed by treatment with a zinc chloride solution as well as by directly applying, as by printing, on the fabric in the desired areas a zinc chloride solution thickened by the addition of the customary thick-ening agent,

such as starch, rubber, glue, gum tragacanth, etc. Such attempts at direct printing have, however, resulted in failure because the printing mass ran so that the resultant printed areas lacked the necessary well-defined contours.

The present invention is based on the surprising observation that the difficulty can be solved by substituting, instead of one of the thickening agents heretofore employed in previous unsuccessful attempts, a *cellulosic thickening agent for the zinc chloride. Within the term cellulosic thickening agent we mean to comprehend cellulose presented in suitable form adapted to be dissolved in zinc chloride, such for example as cellulose pulp, cotton linters, reprecipitated cellulose (for instance, viscose) and organic cellulose derivatives (for instance, cellulose esters, such as acetyl cellulose). Furthermore, we have discovered certain other important improvements in the manner of carrying out the process, which will be more fully described following, and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In a preferred form of the invention, and more especially where the fabric to be treatedis artificial silk (rayon) it has been found desirable to employ as the cellulosic thickening agent a material which is composed in whole or in part of organic cellulose derivatives, for instance cellulose ester acetyl-cellulose in particular has proven to be desirable; and we have found it advantageous to use a mixture of acetyl cellulose and cellulose in some instances. Where such mixture is used, the cellulose may be provided, for example, in the form of pulp, cotton linters or re-precipitated cellulose. We have also used a cellulosic thickening agent which is free from organic cellulose derivatives, and such use may be found suitable in certain instances.

The printing mass is prepared by taking zinc chloride solution and adding 1% to 3% of the jcellulosic thickening agent to be employed and which is dissolved therein at a low temperature, i. e., room temperature (18 C.). In order to produce a printing mass of the best quality it is important that the zinc chloride solution be of a concentration of the order of %75%, obtained for example by dissolving in water enough zinc'chloride to produce almost a degree of saturation. We have found that a solution of thickening agent and zinc chloride may be made by admixing the ingredients at a temperature of the order of 10-30 0. (preferably 18 C.) for a sufficient time to effect the solution. The thickened printing mass thus produced becomes cloudy after standing some time, but this does 'not in any way impair its efiicacy. A greatly improved result is obtained, however, if the thickening agent is first allowed to swell in the cold zinc chloride solution, then the temperature is raised and the solution of the thickening agent and the zinc chloride completed and the mass finally cooledofi. As an example of temperatures and time which have been found to give excellent results in this last procedure, the following will serve as an illustration: The mixture of zinc chloride and thickening agent is allowed to stand at room temperature (18 C.) for ten hours to effect preswelling, the mass is then stirred and the temperature raised to C. until a complete solution resulted, and finally the mass is allowed to cool off under constant stirring until a temperature of 30 C. is reached; at which point the mass is ready for application to the fabric.

The finished printing mass is now placed on the textile fabric to be printed, in some suitable manner, for instance by printing, spraying on or the like. The goods so treated are dried, at the highest possible temperature, for instance at a temperature of the order of about -105 C. (preferably C.), then washed, centrifugated and the drying is completed.

The parts which previously have been covered with the printing mass then possess the desired parchmentizing efiect and these parts differ from the less transparent background and are in the form of transparent designs.

Before printing with the zinc chloride mass, the textile fabric can be pre-treated as desired, for instance, boiled out, bleached, mercerized, dyed or printed in colors.

In order to increase the effect of the process, the fabric can be subsequently treated with swelling agents in tensioned or loose condition after the printing with zinc chloride, drying and washing of the mass.

In the treatment of certain fabrics the high degree of concentration of zinc chloride when used with a celluloslc thickening agent which does not contain organic cellulose derivatives, produces excessive parchmentization; and accordingly in some cases it has been found desirable to reduce the parchmentizing effect. We have discovered that formaldehyde is suitable for this purpose. It is noted in this connection that the efficacy of the printing mass is materially impaired by dilution with water, but does not suffer when diluted with formaldehyde. However, in the use of formaldehyde for this purpose certain technical difficulties have been found to exist in practical operation because of the development of strong and disagreeable odors, which present difficulties in suitably supervising the process. We have found that the use of a cellulosic thickening agent comprised in part or in whole of organic cellulose derivatives (as previously mentioned) entirely avoids the difficulty of overparchmentizing by the printing mass and therefore eliminates the necessity for the use of form'- aldehyde. This, therefore, we consider the preferred form of the invention in so far as the treatment of certain fabrics is concerned, for example the treatment of artificial silk (rayon).

The following examples illustrate the invention:

Example 1 A bleached viscose-voile fabric is printed with a mass of the following composition:

Kilograms Zinc chloride 69 Water 31 Acetate silk (rayon) waste 2 Viscose rayon waste 0.5

The fabric is thereupon completely dried at 95 C., washed out, centrifugated and finally completed by drying on a frame under tension.

The printed parts are transparent and show good resistance to tearing.

Example 2 Cotton mousseline, mercerized, bleached, is printed with a printing mass composedas follows:

Parts in weight Zinc chloride, technical (industrial) 69 Water 31 Viscose waste 2.1

The printed goods are dried at 95 C. completely, washed out, centrifugated and dried on a frame under tension. Thereupon the goods are placed in a caustic soda solution of 32 B.v for 4 minutes, washed with water and acidified with sulfuric acid of 2 B. After repeatedthorough washing, the goods are dried with the least possible tension. Embossed effects are obtained.

Example 3 Viscose fabric is printed with a mass consisting of the following:

Parts in weight Zinc chloride technical (industrial) Water a 30 Formaldehyde, concentrated 20 Viscose waste 3 Example 4 De-gummed silk muslin is printed with the fol lowing printing paste:

Parts in weight Zinc chloride technical (industrial) 50 Water 20 Formaldehyde, concentrated 30 Viscose Waste 2.5

The goods are dried as in the case of Example 3, at 95 C., washed, centrifugated and finally dried under tension. There is obtained an effect similar to that of Example 3. I

Example 5 A bleached mercerized cotton muslin is printed with a mass consisting of the following:

Kilograms Zinc chloride technical (industrial) '72 Water 28 Viscose silk waste 1.8

The printing mass in this instance is preferably produced by swelling the thickening agent in the concentrated solution of zinc chloride at room temperature (18 C.) for a period of 10 hours, raising the temperature of the mixture to C. and stirring the same to complete the solution. Thereafter, the mass thus produced is allowed to cool off to 30 C. under constant stirring and preferably while at this temperature is applied to the fabric as by printing. Immediately after the printing, the fabric is completely dried at C., washed out, centrifugated and finally finished on a tension frame.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. In the process of producing transparent effects on fabrics, the step which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a concentrated solution of zinc chloride in which a cellulosic thickening agent is dissolved.

2. In the process of producing transparent effects on fabrics, the step which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a concentrated solution of zinc chloride in which a cellulosic thickening agent is dissolved at a low temperature.

3. In the process of producing transparent effects on fabrics, the step which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a concentrated solution of zinc chloride in which a-cellulosic thickening agent" has been swollen while cold and then completely dissolved at a higher temperature and then the said mass cooled off. I

4. In the process of producing transparent effects on fabrics, the step which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a concentrated solution of zinc chloride in which a cellulosic thickening agent is dissolved, said cellulosic thickening agent being composed at least in part of an organic cellulose derivative.

5. In the process of producing transparent patterned efiects on fabrics, the step which comprises subjecting the fabric to and limiting to predetermined localized areas the action of a concentrated solution of zinc chloride by means of a cellulosic thickening agent dissolved therein.

6. In the process of producing transparent patterned effects on fabrics, the step which comprises subjecting the fabric to and limiting to predetermined localized areas the action of a concentrated solution of zinc chloride by means of a cellulosic thickening agent dissolved therein, the relative proportions of the cellulosic thickening agent to the zinc, chloride solution being about 1%-3% by weight of said thickening agent and 97%-99% chloride solution.

7. In the process of producing transparent patterned eiiects on fabrics, the step which comprises subjecting the fabric to and limiting to predetermined localized areas the action of a concentrated solution of zinc chloride by means of a cellulosic thickening agent dissolved therein by first swelling said agent in a cold solution of said zinc chloride and completing the solution at a higher temperature, the relative proportions of the cellulosic thickening agent to the zinc chloride solution being about 1%-3% by weight of said thickening agent and 9'? %99% by weight of said zinc chloride solution.

8. In the process according to claim wherein the cellulosic thickening agent is composed of cellulose and an organic cellulose derivative.

9. In the process of producing transparent effects on fabrics, the step which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a. concentrated solution of zinc chloride in which a cellulosic thickening agent is dissolved and to which mass formaldehyde has been added to reduce the parchmentizing effect.

10. The process of producing transparent effects on fabrics which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a concentrated solution of zinc chloride in which a "cellulosic thickening agent has been dissolved, drying the goods so treated at a temperature of the order of 80-105 C., washing the goods and subsequently drying the goods under tension.

by weight of said zinc 11. The process of producing transparent effects on fabrics which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a concentrated solution of zinc chloride in which a cellulosic thickening agent has been dissolved, drying the goods so treated at a temperature ,of the order of 95 C., washing the goods and subsequently drying the goods under tension.

12. In a process according to claim 10 wherein the parchmentizing mass is produced by swelling the cellulosic thickening agent" in a cold concentrated solution of zinc chloride, completing the solution at a higher temperature and permitting the mass to cool 011?.

13. The process of producing embossed effects on fabrics which comprises printing on the fabric a parchmentizing mass comprising a con-' centrated solution of zinc chloride in which a cellulosic thickening agent" has been dissolved, drying the goods so treated at a temperature 01' the order of 80-105 C., washing the goods and subsequently treating the goods with swelling agents.

14. In the process of producing transparent effects, the step which comprises swelling a cellulosic thickening agent in a cold concentrated solution of zinc chloride, completing the solution at a higher temperature and permitting the mass to cool oil.

15. In the process of producing transparent efiects, the step which comprises swelling a cellulosic thickening agent in a cold concentrated solution of zinc chloride, completing the solution while heating the ingredients to a temperature of the order of 60-80 C. and permitting the mass to cool ofi to about 30 C.

16. In the process of producing transparent efiects, the step which comprises swelling a cellulosic thickening agent in a concentrated solution of zinc chloride for a substantial time at a temperature of about 18 C., stirring the mixture and increasing the temperature to about 70 C. and stirring the mass and permitting it to cool off to about 30 C.

17. In the process of producing transparent effects, the steps which comprise swelling a c'ellulosic thickening agent in a cold concentrated solution of zinc chloride, completing the solution at a higher temperature, permitting the mass to cool ofito a temperature at least as high as 18 C., and applying the mass at this temperature to the fabric to be treated.

GEORGE HEBERLEIN, JR. ERNST WEISS. 

